Federal Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton has called for Council and the community to apply for funding from the Morrison Governments fifth round of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) which is now open.
Mr Hamilton said the BBRF was another example of the Liberal National Governments support for regional Australia and communities such as Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.
“Our region has been hit by drought, bushfires and of course the COVID-19 pandemic, despite these challenges our community has confronted those challenges head on, businesses have worked hard to grow and employ more people and our region is doing its fair share to lead the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I look forward to working with the Toowoomba Regional Council, community groups and other eligible entities on prospective projects.
“The BBRF provides an opportunity to drive economic growth, build stronger regions and in this particular round, improve regional tourism infrastructure to support the growth of that industry into the future,” Mr Hamilton said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said this round will see local communities share in $200 million.
“Releasing the program guidelines last December meant prospective applicants could begin preparing their submissions,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The Australian Government is now welcoming those submissions, ready to support community investments such as local events and strategic regional plans as well as infrastructure projects which will provide lasting benefits to regional and remote areas.
“This round will see $100 million of dedicated support for tourism-related infrastructure while maintaining $100 million for broader community infrastructure and investment.
“The Australian Government is proud to continue supporting our rural and regional communities with Round 5 bringing our total commitment to more than $1 billion over seven years.”
Applications are now open and can be submitted through the online portal at www.business.gov.au/bbrf.
If potential applicants have any questions regarding eligibility or the delivery of the program, they can contact the AusIndustry Business Grants Hub on 13 28 46 to discuss their individual circumstances.
Prospective applicants are also encouraged to contact their local Regional Development Australia (RDA) committee to discuss their application. More information including contact details for your local RDA can be found at www.rda.gov.au.
Applications close on 5 March 2021, with successful applicants expected to be announced in mid-2021.
